LAW

Establishing a Natural Protected Area “Al-Shouf Cedar”

First Article

The public properties of the villages of Niha, Jbaa, Mresti, Khreibeh, Maaser, Barouk, Bmohray, Ain Darah and Ain Zhalta are considered as Natural Protected Area in addition to the properties of the east side of Barouk Mountain, the mentioned public properties are located within the borders shown below:

North: Public properties of Ain Darah town
East: The borders of the public properties of the following villages:
Niha, Jbaa, Mresti, Maaser, Barouk, Bmohray, Ain Zhalta and Ain Darah of
the east side of Barouk Mountain.
South: Borders of the public properties of Niha town via Jezzine.
East: Borders of the private properties of the villages of Niha, Jbaa, Mresti,
Khreibeh, Maaser, Barouk, Bmohray, Ain Darah and Ain Zhalta

Second Article

Aiming to preserve the wood, plant and animal wealth in the natural protected area; hence cutting , investing or industrializing trees of seedlings within the protected area is prohibited by law whatever their kinds.

The Third Article

Livestock (cattle) are not allowed to enter the protected area aiming to protect its soil and plants.

The Fourth Article

It is prohibited to take away and remove any yields or produces from the protected area such as removing or drawing out stones or sand or metal or water, or grass or flowers or herbage or green leaves or natural fertilizers from the wood land , or the various seeds or other fruits and the other produces or contents of the protected area unless for scientific research which aims to improve the ecology of the protected area.

The Fifth Article

It is prohibited to do or perform any act that may lead to trouble in the protected area ecosystem and in particular:

1. Setting fire or burning the grass and others such as plants and natural wastes which exist in the protected area or (within) less than 500 meters of its border.
2. Wild hunting in the protected area or within a distance less than 500 meters of its border.
3. Camping in the protected lands or throwing the wastes etc…….
4. Every act that may damage the protected area or deforms its natural sights or destroys its resources.

The Sixth Article

Every text law and all the operative international agreements are applied within the protected area, and in particular those which focus on the environment protection, the wood values and the natural beauty.

The Seventh Article

The grass (herbs) and the cut or industrialized wood are confiscated and sold by auction to the benefit of the protected area committee where those materials are extracted. The violators are judged and taken to prison for a period ranging between three months and three years and with a fine equal to two million five hundred Lebanese pounds for each cut tree and one hundred thousand Lebanese pounds for each kilogram of wood or firewood and two hundred thousand for each industrialized box and one hundred and fifty thousand Lebanese pounds for each kilogram of any industrialized substances.

The Eighth Article

Each person who permits cattle to get into the protected area is punished by a fine equal to two hundred fifty thousand Lebanese pounds per head and put into jail for a period ranging from two to six months.

The Ninth Article

Each person that breaks, spoils or transfers any of the protected land produce or removes the border signs is punished by a fine ranging from one hundred thousand Lebanese pounds to one million Lebanese pounds and enter the prison for fifteen days to six months.
Each person who sets fire in the protected area is punished by entering the prison for a juration ranging from one month to two years. Punishment must meet with the damages estimated by the court. In the case of there being two punishments for the same offense with different texts, the extreme punishment is applied.

The Tenth Article

In all circumstances, and in addition to the above mentioned punishments it is judged that, the taken or cut wood material that was used to commit the breach must be returned and the saws, axes, cutters, the other devices, materials and the transportation means must be confiscated. The confiscated materials and fines are to be returned to the mentioned protected area committee.

The Eleventh Article

By a resolution issued by the Governor of Mount Lebanon (Mouhafez) and after consulting the Minister for Environment a committee of seven volunteer members is appointed for three years to insure the protection and controlling works and make available the studies and scientific research in order to ecologically rehabilitate the land.
Appointing the members of the protected land must take into consideration the representation of the area municipalities and those who have in-depth experience in ecology.

The Twelfth Article

This law is considered valid as soon as published in the official gazette.